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OHL Kitchener Rangers

Rangers Fill the Net in Game 1 Win over Storm

March 23, 2018 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Kitchener Rangers Goaltender Mario Culina stops the Guelph Storm
Kitchener Rangers Goaltender Mario Culina stops the Guelph Storm
(Kitchener Rangers)

There were some doubts cast the Kitchener Rangers way at the end of the regular season, but their performance in Game 1 should do well to quell any worries their fans may have had.

The Blueshirts exploded with five first period goals and got offensive contributions from a total of seven different scorers as they handed their Highway 7 rivals, the Guelph Storm, a convincing 7-2 defeat in front of 6,492 fans at The Aud.

The Rangers now lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0, with Game 2 slated for Sunday, March 25 at 7pm at The Aud.

Jack York, Adam Mascherin, Greg Meireles, Joseph Garreffa, Riley Damiani, Kole Sherwood and Michael Vukojevic each potted goals in the win, which saw the Blueshirts jump out to the extended lead in the first period, then exchanged goals in the second and third periods with the Storm.

Mascherin and Damiani each tallied a goal and two assists in the win, while Garreffa, York and Logan Stanley each had two-point efforts.

Mario Culina (1-0-0) earned his first playoff win as a member of the Rangers, turning aside 36 of 38 Storm shots.

Anthony Popovich (0-0-1) took the loss, surrendering six goals on 30 Rangers shots before being replaced at the start of the third period by Nico Daws, who surrendered on goal on 13 shots.

York opened the game's scoring at 8:57 of the first period, assisted by Mascherin and Kyle Gentles and the flood gates opened from there. Just 2:41 minutes later Mascherin made it a 2-0 Kitchener lead, from York and Garreffa, at 11:38.

1:33 after Mascherin's goal it was Meireles who followed suit, giving the Rangers a 3-0 edge after a pretty feed from Damiani, with Stanley earning the second assist at 13:11.

The fourth Kitchener goal came just 1:11 later with the Blueshirts on the power play as Garreffa earned his second of the night, from Logan Brown and Stanley, at 14:22.

Damiani closed out the first period explosion of Rangers goals with an unassisted tally at 18:19.

Shots on goal through the first frame favoured the home side, 12-6.

The teams exchanged goals late in the second period, starting with Guelph getting on the board with a marker by Nate Schnarr, from Liam Hawel, at 14:02.

Kitchener restored its five-goal lead with another late period goal, this time at 18:39 as Sherwood made it 6-1, from Mascherin and Givani Smith.

Shots through two periods were 30-24, Kitchener.

Daws entered the game in goal for the Storm to start the third period and it may have given his team some life, as the visitors made it a 6-2 game on the stick of Isaac Ratcliffe, assisted by Ryan Merkley and Schnarr, at 6:10.

The Rangers would respond, however, making it a 7-2 game on a marker by Vukojevic - his second against the Storm in as many games - during 4-on-4 play, assisted by Damiani at 9:46 to round out the game's scoring.

Final shots on goal after 60 minutes of play were 43-38, Kitchener.

The Rangers were 1-for-1 on the power play, while the Storm were 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

Jack York (KIT) (3), Riley Damiani (KIT) (2), and Adam Mascherin (KIT) (1) were selected as the Three Stars of the Game.

Logan Stanley, Adam Mascherin, and Logan Brown each wore an "A" and skated as alternates to Rangers' captain Connor Bunnaman.

Tickets to all Kitchener Rangers home playoff games are $24.00 each for adults, $20.00 for children 12 and under including HST. They are available in person or by calling the Activa Box Office at The Aud, from Centre in the Square (519) 578-1570 -or- 1-800-265-8977, or by purchasing online.

Join in the conversation on all things Rangers by using #RaiseTheShield and #OHLPlayoffs. You can follow the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @OHLRangers.

Western Conference Quarter-Final

(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (7) Guelph Storm

Game 1 - Friday, March 23: Guelph Storm 2 at Kitchener Rangers 7

Game 2 - Sunday, March 25: Guelph Storm at Kitchener Rangers 7pm

Game 3 - Tuesday, March 27: Kitchener Rangers at Guelph Storm 7pm

Game 4 - Wednesday, March 28: Kitchener Rangers at Guelph Storm 7pm

*Game 5 - Friday, March 30: Guelph Storm at Kitchener Rangers 7:30pm

*Game 6 - Sunday, April 1: Kitchener Rangers at Guelph Storm 2pm

*Game 7 - Tuesday, April 3: Guelph Storm at Kitchener Rangers 7pm

(*if necessary)

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Images from this story

Kitchener Rangers Goaltender Mario Culina stops the Guelph Storm
Kitchener Rangers Goaltender Mario Culina stops the Guelph Storm
   



Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2018


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